LISLE, Ill. – Deshawn Hampton (Jr.-Hazel Crest, Ill.) was the latest Lakeland University wide receiver to have a career day and the Muskies again went to the wire but came up short in a 42-35 loss to Benedictine University Saturday afternoon in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game.

The Muskies lost for the fourth time this season by a touchdown or less, including for the third straight week, with all in conference play. Lakeland cut a 21-point second half deficit to seven in the fourth quarter but dropped to 1-6 overall and 1-4 in conference, just missing against a Benedictine team that improved to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the NACC.

The Muskies followed what has increasingly felt like a script for their season, once again outgaining an opponent by a boatload of yards in defeat. This time it was Lakeland piling up yards against the top defense in the NACC and one of the best defenses in NCAA Division III, rolling up 560 yards and 35 points against a Benedictine team that entered allowing 265.5 yards and 14.2 points per contest coming in. The Muskies ran 110 plays in the contest to just 43 for the Eagles.

Hampton set career highs with eight catches for 161 yards and a touchdown, and Robby Michael (Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) threw for over 400 yards for the third straight game. Lakeland even had success running as the game went on, finishing with 148 yards on the ground, more than double the 63.7 yards per game the Eagles were allowing coming in.

The Muskies drove 75 yards or more on four of their touchdown drives, including a 19-play, 89-yard drive on their first possession of the second half capped by a 3-yard touchdown pass by to Caden Kleparski (So.-Unity, Wis.) to make it 35-21. Lakeland also saw three other long drives end on downs, though, all inside the Benedictine 25, including its final sustained drive when a 12-play, 58-yard march ended with a fourth down incompletion.
 
Lakeland also surrendered a touchdown on a kickoff return, with Benedictine's Jason Moore taking a short kickoff 65 yards for a score on the second half kickoff and a 35-14 lead. A short punt from deep in their own territory and a 36-yard punt return resulting in a short field also allowed the Eagles to start two of their touchdown drives essentially on third base, needing to go just 27 and 14 yards for two of their scores.

The Muskies never led in the game and were tied twice, first at 7-7 after Michael connected with Jeremy Kobe (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) four a 4-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter, the fourth straight game the two hooked up for a score. Lakeland also tied it again at 14-14 when Michael hit Kobe again for a 9-yard touchdown with 8:52 left in the second quarter.

Benedictine needed just two plays to retake the lead, though, with a 50-yard pass from Philip Jacobs to Alex Siebens for a touchdown making it 21-14, and the Eagles then opened it up with two touchdowns 1:25 apart spanning halftime. Dino Stephens scored on an 18-yard run with 1:11 left in the first half for a 28-14 lead, and Moore returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown to stretch the Benedictine lead to 21 points.

Lakeland battled back, first with the marathon drive ending with Kleparski's touchdown catch, then by recovering an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. The Muskies then went 46 yards in seven plays with Jontae Lambert (Fr.-Fort Wayne, Ind.) scoring on a 10-yard run to close within 35-28 with still 4:22 remaining in the third quarter.

Lakeland's next drive went three plays and out, and the Eagles returned the punt down to the Muskies' 14-yard line to start their next drive in prime territory. Benedictine needed just one play to take advantage with Jacobs hitting Siebens for a 14-yard touchdown and a 42-28 lead.

Lakeland rallied back with a quick eight-play, 75-yard drive in just 2:22 with Michael finding Hampton for a 19-yard touchdown that with the extra-point by McKynzee Schepp (Jr.-Marshall, Wis.) made it 42-35 with 11:34 to play. The Muskies defense then came up with a stop on downs, and the offense converted a pair of fourth downs, the second Michael to Hampton for 24 yards down to Benedictine's 21-yard line. Four plays netted a loss of two yards, though, and the Eagles took over with 3:52 left and ran off over three minutes, then pinned Lakeland back at its own 21 with 37 seconds left after a 48-yard punt by Carter Velez. The Muskies had one last drive, but after a holding penalty got no further than their own 25 before time ran out.

Michael finished completing 30 of 60 passes for 412 yards and four touchdowns, and also rushed for 98 yards. Lamarious Liggins (Fr.-Memphis, Tenn.) caught three passes for 75 yards and Kobe caught six passes for 66 yards. Lambert also caught seven passes for 71 yards and added 44 yards rushing.

Trayvonne Roberts (Jr.-Lynwood, Ill.) paced the defense with 11 tackles and Shamond Oliver (Sr.-Phenix City, Ala.) added eight tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.

Stephens supplied a good share of Benedictine's offense with 26 carries for 202 yards and two touchdowns. Jacobs also completed 7 of 12 passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns. The Eagles finished with 18 first downs, 14 less than Lakeland's total of 32 first downs, but averaged 8.4 yards per play.

Lakeland is back home this coming Saturday to face Concordia University Chicago at 1 p.m. at John Taylor Memorial Field.